Marcia Williams Social Media for Writers If you are one of the many people who wonder what exactly social media is, you're in luck because we have an answer for you. Simply put, the definition of social media is this: Social media is a way to connect with other people who are passionate about the same things you are. One of the great qualities about the types of technology available to us today is that they allow you to choose how you use them. For example, you could use social media for consuming and sharing information, or for developing relationships and building a sense of community. It's completely up to you. However, in order to reap the benefits of social media, it's important to put forth the extra effort. What are the benefits of social media for writers? There are many types of writers. Regardless of the type of work you create—fiction, nonfiction, memoir, freelance articles, or other types of writing—social media can have a positive impact on your writing career. Whatever type of writer you are, here are the top six benefits you can get from using social media: Social media can help you market yourself and your work. Part of marketing is developing a platform and having a strong presence online. This entails building an audience and readership, which becomes an important part of your marketing strategy. After all, in order to build a platform, you have to reach your readers first. If you're already a published author, social media can be a helpful tool for promoting your upcoming book and/or previous works. You can build a network of connections through social media. Networking is important for writers. Social media can help you make and build connections with like-minded people. For example, you might interact with other writers, editors, literary agents, or those who inspire you. You never know where your connections can lead you! You can strengthen and maintain your connections. Similar to the previous point, but equally important, is maintaining your connections with others. For example, if you met someone at a recent writing event, such as a conference, you can keep in touch and strengthen your connection with that person by following and interacting with each other online through social media. You could also stay in touch with an agent who you have queried before or met at a pitch slam. You can share your expertise. Instead of describing your recent accomplishments or your work to others, show them what you do through social media and share your expertise. Join online conversations about a particular topic or subject you have extensive knowledge of, or post pieces of your writing to let others know what type of work you've written and what you're currently working on. You can learn about your readers and/or fans. As mentioned above, social media can help you develop your platform and build readership. Social media can be an essential tool in getting to know your audience. Social media gives you a prime opportunity to learn about them and build your audience over time. Who are your readers? What are their interests? What do they want? Observe what types of subjects or topics they are talking or posting about. Then ask yourself how your work fits into their wants/needs. After all, every writer's goal is to engage readers. You can gain tremendous insight into what your readers are looking for by using social media. What are some of the top social media sites I should join? It would take forever to compile an exhaustive list of every social media site there is. Therefore, we've chosen a few of the most popular (and most useful) social media sites for writers. Twitter This platform is great for connecting with other writers and readers. Writers use Twitter to interact with other writers and authors online, gather new ideas and inspiration, gain exposure through tweeting, keep abreast industry news, and find relevant links about writing through other user's tweets. Before you join Twitter, you should know how to use it and some of the key terms associated with it. A tweet is a status update limited to 140 characters. Followers are those people who have chosen to follow you. This helps you quantify the number of people who are interested in your work/what you are tweeting about. Similarly, you have the option to follow other users. This number appears under "following" and their tweets show up in your newsfeed. When you want to tweet another person you simply type the @ sign and the person's Twitter name followed by your message. Here's an example: @writersdigest Thanks for being a great resource for writers! When you forward someone else's updates to your followers, it's called ReTweeting. To acknowledge where the information you are about to share came from, you include the letters RT before their Twitter username followed by the message. Here's an example: RT @writersdigest Live WD webinar + critique w/ Mary Kole on May 10: Publish Your Children's, Tween, or Teen Fiction in Today's Market http://bit.ly/KDfG0S. You can direct message, or privately message another person on Twitter. To do this, be sure you follow that person and vice versa. Compose a new tweet with the letter D followed by a space, then the @sign and the person's Twitter username. Here's an example: d @writersdigest Where can I enter the WD Annual Competition? One way of organizing the users whom you follow is to segment them by list. You can create lists for anything, but most writers have lists of agents, writers, authors, and publishers. This not only helps you to become organized, but lets you see specific Twitter user's updates and allows other users to view your lists. Hashtags are used to organize discussions on Twitter. To start or join in on a discussion, add the # sign and the designated hashtag phrase. For example, if you were at the Writer's Digest Conference this year, you would have used #WDC12. You and others can follow hashtags, seeing everyone's tweets who included the hashtag. Facebook Facebook is one of the largest social networking sites today. You can use Facebook to keep in touch with personal connections by updating your status and sharing images and videos. Many companies and brands are on Facebook where you can interact with other fans and receive exclusive information on new products and upcoming events. Google+ This is one of the newest social media sites. While it has features from Facebook and Twitter, it is still growing and being discovered by users. However, if you are interested in publishing news and information about writing, follow Writer's Digest on Google+. You might even get a freebie for following! LinkedIn LinkedIn is a social network for your professional career. When you create a profile, you can list your credentials, work experience, and skills. You can connect with past and current coworkers and others you have interacted with professionally. In return, your connections can recommend you/your work to others. Having an account on LinkedIn is a valuable resource because it can connect you to agents, editors, publishers, authors, and writers. You can gain valuable insight into the industry and find unique opportunities in writing through the connections you make on LinkedIn. YouTube YouTube is a popular site where people can share video updates, reviews, and more. Writers can use YouTube to promote upcoming writing events and share professional news. For example, you could post a video online to share exciting news, such as finding an agent or getting your work published. The Writer's Digest YouTube channel offers previews of our most popular online writing tutorials and giveaways. GoodReads GoodReads is a social network based on books, where you create and manage your virtual bookshelf. You can connect with others you know as well as those who like the same types of books you do. Not only can you connect with avid readers and writers, but you can also get insight into the types of books people are reading and emerging trends.

In the Words of a Child by  Marcia Williams  If there is one person who is a breath of inspiration it is Katrina Kusa.  Katrina Kusa Already a published author at age 13, she has been writing since she was eight years old, her first published children’s book, The Kingdom of the Lizards, was published at age 10.  She is currently working on her third book to be published in 2018!   The only child of her parents, her mother Luba Kusa speaks proudly about the glowing accomplishments  of her young daughter including a recent award from the Florida Association of Publishers and Authors (FAPA), receiving the Annual 2017 President’s Book Awards which recognized The Kingdom of the Lizards, in the category of juvenile fiction, as a Bronze medal winner for both the state of Florida and the overall national award!  I met Katrina at the FAPA annual conference recently and was pleased to speak to this trailblazer and found her to be very pleasant and down to earth. I found out she also loves music, performing and writing it!  After our brief conversation, I had to ask her what advice does she have for those children and teens who have the desire to also publish one day.  She answers candidly, “Just begin writing, don’t worry about what other people say about your writing, don’t worry about the grammar, don’t worry about those people who try to discourage you, just write!”  I’d say this is good advice not only for children but also for those adults who want to pursue this same dream. You can find out more about Katrina, her publications and read her tips on writing at www.katrinakusa.com. Thank you for inspiring us all Katrina.  We will be looking forward to many more books and accomplishments in your future. ................ OK, I Have decided to Write a Book What Should I Write About? Choosing a topic might be your most difficult choice. Whatever you choose: You must have a mastery of your subject matter. You must have a mastery of the points you want to make. You must have a mastery of how you will communicate your message.  Otherwise, readers will think: You have no idea what you’re writing about. You either the lack the skill, preparation or sense to communicate. Your writing isn’t worth their time. Choosing a topic, however, might be simple because there’s only one thing that you KNOW you MUST put into print.   It doesn’t matter if your book is about the way your grandmother’s house smelled, those mean kids in middle school, how to turn cornbread into gold or Nine Things You Didn’t Know About Drawknives.   Pick something that brings out your passions. Sooner or later, the joy of writing will become a tedious rut. Choose a rut you’ll enjoy being in for the long bumpy ride to your destination.  Then, write.   Write some more.   And don’t give up.  by  Robert Sutherland ............. Upcoming Events October 28th  Join us at the 4th Annual Authors' Showcase  November 18th Come meet & greet Christian Authors and Music Artist from around the nation The Lexington Hotel 1515 Prudential Drive Jacksonville, Florida 32207 Saturday November 18, 2017 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Who said "Poetry is Dead?" by  Marcia Williams W e know from high school, the sort of thing a poem is. It is generally in free verse, although it could be a sonnet, if wanted.  It describes something, someone, an event, feeling, social climate, etc., very carefully, and it has deep layers that we need to analyze.  All literature used to be poetry. But then fiction splintered off. Then the sort of tale you sung could be recorded and the words did not have to spend any time outside the company of their music if they did not want to. A poet is African in Africa, or Irish in Ireland, or French on the left bank of Paris, or in mid-state Wisconsin. A poet writes in her own language. A poet writes of her own people, her own history, her own vision, her own room, her own house where she sits at her own table quietly placing one word after another word until she builds a line and a movement and an image and a meaning that somersaults all of these into the singing, the absolutely individual voice of the poet: at liberty. A poet is somebody free. A poet is someone at home.  Black poetry is still a relatively new genre when viewed from a historical perspective, and this is probably why a significant number of black poems have themes that either directly or indirectly deal with overcoming struggles and/or discussing dreams (at many times in a sense or spirit of yearning). Famous black poets like Paul Laurence Dunbar, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen have written poems discussing the dreams of progression and acceptance by a people. Today, poems by people of color are still evolving, writing about all aspects of life, producing poems that portray and reflect personal struggles as well as the yearning for social and economic equality not only in their communities, but throughout the world. The great thing about Poetry is that it is timeless.  When we read poetry, we interpret it based on our own ideas and cultural perceptions.  Even very old poems still appeal to us and resonate with us.  Poetry of the past and contemporary poetry still has relevance today for at least two reasons. 1 1     1)       The first is that truths, either universal or personal, are expressed in poetry, and the world always needs to read truths expressed in the special language formulations that comprise poetry. 2      2)      The second is that formulating poetry requires specific mental skills - skills in compressing complex thoughts, employing comparisons and other poetic devices and using rhetorical techniques that can only add to the expansion of the cognitive perceptions of both the reader and the writer. Poetry of the past, and today, still finds a way to speak to people.  A lot of it shows up in our music or in the writings and performances of our contemporary poets. However you look at it, poetry is definitely alive and well, and relevant! Featured Poet                                                                                Gilbert Saenz Searching for Peace Unable to find peace to sleep at night, Which inspires me to write as I continue to fight seeking to find peace from the Holy Spirit’s light. We all live for different ideologies, we all pass down separate philosophies. Searching for peace as my body starts to release my soul, letting God take complete control. In this life you try to help as many people as you can, and for all our lives God has a plan, But you have to search deep in order to understand. I got this strange feeling looking down at my body from the ceiling, While my soul drifts away, My mind constantly searching for a better day. The winds of life seem to blow me away creating chaos, panic and disarray. This battle in my mind I continue fighting, Through the process I become enlightened. God provides me with the words to continue writing, Searching for peace as I struggle every day, Searching my whole life trying to find a better way. One of the messages that I try to relay is hope and inspiration to live another day. It really doesn’t matter anyway because in the end your earthly possessions all go away. Living in this world that is full of distractions, But your words are not as strong as your actions. This world becomes more demanding, Full of hatred and misunderstanding. We are all much smaller fragments of a much more complex system and when the universe speaks to us we must learn how to listen. We are all players of the same game played on this planet earth and we became a player on the day of our birth. In order to find God, I lost my mind but after accepting Christ my life made sense with time. Change is a process that we must all comprehend, We must embrace it in order to transcend. This world that we live in seems to divide us farther away and things seem to get worse with every passing day. The path of righteousness leads only one way, But the distractions in this world will drift you astray. Every wrong decision there is a price to pay, Life is a complex game that you must learn how to play. Our intentions in life should be to evolve and grow and learn to let go of your ego. The cycle of life will continue to flow, But let go of your past or it will manifest really slow. One day your time will come, But continue to gain wisdom and continue seeking God’s kingdom. Every day is a battle between bad and good, the battle lines are complicated and often misunderstood. My soul sets free from my biological body as I write down God’s words in my poetry. Searching for peace sometimes I feel so alone trying to find peace and find my way back home. My message will spread from these thoughts in my head even after I am dead as my poems continue to be read. The goal of a generation is to exceed expectations and remove all limitation. With my words, I try to inspire and ignite a spiritual fire, that will continue to burn. With a new problem comes a new solution to learn. Don’t ever judge a book by its cover, We were all human birthed from a mother. Searching for that day when all the violence will cease, I will spend my entire life searching for peace.

                                             by Marcia Williams                                  When you finally finish writing your book - what a feeling!!  This is truly a milestone and a huge accomplishment.  Now, comes the question - should I work with a professional publisher or should I self-publish?  Whatever happens next, you have already done the most difficult part of the endeavor to bring your creative work to an audience, but you are still faced with an important question of how and where to publish your book?  The options you are - should I work with a professional publisher or should I Do It Myself (DIY).  Below are just a few reasons that it is a better idea to choose a professional publisher.                       Why Not Self-Publish  If you are just starting out as a writer, self-publishing might seem like the path of least resistance, but many established writers will tell you that they are glad that they put in the extra effort at the beginning of their careers and went with traditional publishing companies.  While she mentions many great self-published books, freelance writer Kristen Lamb acknowledges that there is a widely-held belief in the writing world that “Real writers don’t self-publish” (http://authorkristenlamb.com/2016/04/real-writers-dont-self-publish/).     In The Guardian, Ros Barber compares getting involved with self-publishing with signing up to be a multi-level marketing rep.  Barber says that, when you publish your own book, you alone are responsible for promoting the book to potential buyers. (https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/mar/21/for-me-traditional-publishing-means-poverty-but-self-publish-no-way).               Naturally occurring word of mouth only goes so far and is elusive and, according to Barber, self-publishing writers end up resorting to increasingly desperate tactics.  The aspiring writer says to other aspiring self-publishing writers: I will promote your book on my blog if you promote my book on yours.  The result is that you end up tying your reputation to an increasing number of low-quality books, just for some publicity that may or may not lead to book sales.       With professionally published books as with self-published books, some books are masterpieces while many are not, but the pros of submitting your work to a professional publisher outweigh the cons./authorkristenlamb.com/2016/04/real-writers-dont-self-publish/).                                                     References http://authorkristenlamb.com/2016/04/real-writers-dont-self-publish/ http://www.ashlynforge.com/five-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-self-publish/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/mar/21/for-me-traditional-publishing-means-poverty-but-self-publish-no-way

by Marcia Williams Never be afraid to let yourself dream.  God gave you that mind for a reason, not to think up a disastrous future, but to imagine and use your faith for a good future, to focus on what is good for you, for your family, and for the world at large.       I believe in progression.  Out of progression will come possession - this is God’s way.  You believe it, say it and do what is in line with the Word, then possession comes.  Patience is a part of the process.  The scripture says it was only when Abraham patiently endured that he received the promise. It doesn’t matter if it takes one day or ten years.  Stand and having done all… stand, stand therefore, letting patience have its perfect work.  In the end, you will be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4).  Notice the Word went beyond saying we would need nothing, into the realm of desire. Want is not a bad thing.      God loves you and wants the best for you. The faith system is in place to get you there, day by day, overcoming hurdles and enjoying life in the process.  The challenge itself should not overwhelm you and if it does, you know that you are doing this in your own strength, using your mind for what is not helping you at all.            Your spirit can embrace your intellect, but your intellect may rarely embrace the Spirit.  Accept this and lean to the strongest part of you, the place where you were born again: in the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit will connect with your spirit throughout your day, meeting you in times of need and helping you to let what is hindering your to mind fall away under the strength of your own holy, recreated, saved-by-grace spirit.  Let your spirit rise up and conquer as you move through every day, knowing that you are going somewhere.  Your future is too important to squander in worry or thoughts of what did and didn’t work in the past.  Faith sees the future.       It is also important to look for people who are willing to stand with you.  Those who will encourage and lift you up before God, not one of those who spend their time tearing down the messages of Jesus, trying to take what’s good away from God’s people or those who are envious of your accomplishments and/or calling.  Your destiny will be produced in reality by walking out the desires of your recreated, born again heart.   Prayer – communion with your Father which builds your relationship with Him. Let Him teach you and show you what you need to see inside yourself and show you the direction to take to make your dreams become a reality. God is proud of you. He wants to hear you talk to that mountain.  I believe it blesses God when we throw off the shackles of our lives and focus on why we are here and what we are going to do with the precious life He gave us.  I think he likes it when we tell that mountain where to go! So let your words and your prayers be known to God and to the air around you.  Let your prayer be with “present” faith and not “future” faith.  Everything is available in the spirit and you are a speaking spirit.  You will have in the natural what you first speak in the spirit.  It is your, in Jesus’ name.  May your reach your goals in every part of your life for 2017 and Let's Write Your Stories. Happy New Year!!